Water prices have risen 18% in the last year, according to an Australian Bureau of Statistics publication released today.

The average price of water has increased from $1.77/kL in 2008-09 to $2.09/kL in 2009-10. Households paid significantly more for water on average than agriculture ($2.09/kL compared to $0.09/kL).

Australia also did more with the water it consumed. At current prices, there was a 9% increase in the industry value added per GL of water consumed, from $95 million per GL in 2008-09 to $104 million per GL in 2009-10.

With the rise in price of water came a fall in total consumption. In 2009–10, Australia’s water use was 13,476 GL, down 4% from 2008-09 (14,101 GL).

Agriculture activity accounted for over half of the total water consumption. Of the 7,359 GL of water consumed in agriculture in 2009-10, dairy cattle grazing accounted for 12%, cotton 12%, sugar cane growing 10%, and fruit and nuts 9%.

The Mining industry consumed 4% less water than in 2008-09. This fall is associated with reduced water availability. There was also a 3% fall from 2008-09 in water consumption by the Manufacturing industry.

The annual ABS Water Account, Australia provides information to inform public debate and government decision making about water and how it is managed.

Further details, including state summaries, can be found in Water Account Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4610.0), available for free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au

Media note:

Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.

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